Young Lives vs Cancer

What Young Lives vs Cancer does

Young Lives vs Cancer is the operating brand of CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children, a UK-registered charity (England & Wales charity no. 1107328; Scotland SC039857) headquartered in Bristol and founded in 1968. The organisation is the only UK charity employing specialist social workers embedded inside children's cancer hospitals, delivering emotional, practical, and financial support to children and young people aged 0–25 diagnosed with cancer and to their families. Core service lines include Specialist Social Workers, a network of 10 "Homes from Home" free-accommodation properties near paediatric oncology treatment centres across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, a Welfare and Housing Advice Service, hardship grants, bereavement support, and a dedicated Young People's Service for ages 16–24. Supporting infrastructure includes a live chat service, benefits calculator, grants search tool, and a structured Voice Board / Voice Hub participation programme.

The underlying delivery model is service-led rather than technology-led: technology is described in the source data as supporting a "service-based charity delivery model focused on specialist social work support, not technology platform development." Digital tools are primarily transactional (donations, online shop, ecards) and informational (cancer info hub, publications). Distribution occurs through hospital-embedded direct service delivery, a UK-wide Homes from Home estate, and digital self-serve fundraising platforms.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary fundraising rather than fees for service. Income streams comprise individual donations (one-off and recurring monthly at suggested tiers of £5/£10/£15), a weekly £1 charity lottery with a £25,000 top prize administered via Affinity Lottery, gifts in Wills (funding approximately 1 in 7 supported beneficiaries), corporate partnerships including multi-year Charity-of-the-Year deals with J D Wetherspoon (since 2002) and The LEGO Group (since 2022), trust and foundation grants (Masonic Charitable Foundation, The McClay Foundation), challenge events anchored by TCS London Marathon places (minimum £2,500 sponsorship), and retail/affiliate income via easyfundraising, Give as You Live, and an online merchandise shop. The organisation runs concurrent policy advocacy campaigns (e.g., "Running on Empty" on travel costs) and operates under Gambling Commission regulations for its lottery product.

Name

Young Lives vs Cancer

Legal name

CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children

Website

https://younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Young Lives vs Cancer is the UK's only charity employing specialist social workers embedded in children's cancer hospitals, providing emotional, practical, and financial support to children and young people (0–25) with cancer and their families, plus free accommodation at 10 Homes from Home near treatment centres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Paediatric oncology charity
• Family welfare support
• Charitable fundraising programmes
• Bereavement support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: One-off and recurring monetary donations from individual supporters. Monthly giving programme with suggested amounts (£5/£10/£15). One-off gifts (£30/£55/£70). Event sponsorship with minimum £2,500 for marathon places.
2. Weekly Lottery: Charity weekly lottery at £1 per week offering cash prizes up to £25,000. Administered through Affinity Lottery. Operates under Gambling Commission regulations with responsible gambling provisions.
3. Legacies and Wills: Gifts in Wills programme. One in seven of children and young people currently supported are funded through legacy gifts. Free Will writing services offered through partnership with solicitors.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Long-term corporate partnerships including Charity of the Year, cause related marketing, sponsorship, and employee fundraising. Partners include J D Wetherspoon (since 2002), LEGO (since 2022), Scamp and Dude, Teddy Rocks Festival, and Signet (H Samuel and Ernest Jones).
5. Online Shopping and Affiliate: Online shop selling hoodies, t-shirts, gifts. Affiliate schemes through easyfundraising (4,300+ stores) and Give as you Live where retailers donate a percentage of sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Young Lives vs Cancer is the only UK charity with Specialist Social Workers providing tailored emotional and practical support to children and young people (0-25) diagnosed with cancer and their families, embedded directly in NHS paediatric oncology settings. It complements this with 10 free Homes from Home near treatment centres, financial grants and welfare benefits advice, bereavement support, a dedicated Young People's Service for ages 16-24, and live chat/phone support, all funded entirely by voluntary donations.

Product overview

Young Lives vs Cancer operates as a charitable support organization offering a portfolio of integrated services for children and young people (0-25) with cancer and their families. The core offering centers on Specialist Social Workers who provide tailored emotional and practical support, complemented by 10 Homes from Home providing free accommodation near treatment centres. Additional services include financial support with grants and benefits advice, live chat support, a Weekly Lottery fundraising product, an online merchandise shop, ecards, bereavement support, and specialized programs for teens and young adults (16-24). The organization also runs participation programs (Voice Board and Voice Hub) enabling families to shape the charity's work, publishes comprehensive cancer information resources, and conducts policy advocacy campaigns. Fundraising integrations with easyfundraising and Give as you Live enable retail donations, while the organization maintains active Facebook communities and a YouTube channel for peer support and information sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Specialist Social Workers Expert social workers providing tailored emotional and practical support to children and young people (0-25) with cancer and their families, embedded in NHS children's cancer hospitals across the UK. Help families navigate the healthcare system, access financial support, and cope with the impact of diagnosis.
• Homes from Home Free accommodation for families near specialist cancer treatment centres across 10 UK locations: Jack's House Manchester, Amy's House Belfast, Paul's House Belfast, CLIC House Bristol, Sam's House Bristol, Ciaran's House Edinburgh, Marion's House Glasgow, Paul's House London, Billy's House Nottingham, and Jean's House Southampton.
• Financial Support and Grants Financial assistance programme offering hardship grants, help accessing PIP and DLA benefits, support with travel and accommodation costs near hospitals, complemented by a benefits calculator and grants search tool.
• Live Chat Support Real-time chat support service accessible Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, connecting families with the expert social care team for immediate assistance with queries about money, benefits, and emotional support.
• Bereavement Support Comprehensive support for families when a child or young person dies, including planning ahead, home visits, local support groups, memory days, and ongoing support for up to 18 months.
• Young People's Service (Teens and Young Adults) Specialized service for young adults aged 16-24 diagnosed with cancer, providing social worker support, peer connections through participation groups, events, access to Homes from Home, welfare advice, grants, and a music programme.
• Cancer Information and Support Resources Comprehensive cancer information covering hospital stays, cancer and treatment, body and health, education, family and relationships, work, sex and fertility, with dedicated sections for those with cancer and parents of children with cancer.
• Young Lives vs Cancer Weekly Lottery Weekly charity lottery at £1 per week offering cash prizes including £25,000 first prize, £1,000 second prize, and multiple smaller prizes. Players must be 18+ and UK residents. Administered through Affinity Lottery.
• Online Shop Award-winning online store selling hoodies, t-shirts, gifts and merchandise with proceeds supporting young cancer patients and their families.
• Ecards Digital greeting cards for special occasions where the cost of a traditional card is donated to Young Lives vs Cancer.
• Campaigning and Advocacy Policy advocacy campaigns including cancer costs, travel costs ('Running on Empty'), the cost of waiting, and calls for a Children and Young People's Cancer Plan, working with government and decision makers across the UK.
• Welfare and Housing Advice Service Free trained advisers providing advice on benefits, housing and other welfare issues for families facing cancer-related financial challenges.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Masonic Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Kindly part-funding a Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge since 2021. Foundation supports vulnerable children and young people projects.
• The McClay FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting No Place Like Home programme in Northern Ireland, specifically Pauls House and Amys House. Foundation supports projects providing quality of life and positive outcomes for cancer patients.
• easyfundraisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShopping partner where users shop at participating brands and donations are made to Young Lives vs Cancer at no cost to shopper.
• Give as you LiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline shopping partner with over 4,300 stores where purchases generate free donations for Young Lives vs Cancer.
• Affinity LotterycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLottery provider administering Young Lives vs Cancer Weekly Lottery. Provides platform infrastructure for £1/week lottery with prizes up to £25,000.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Starlight Children's Foundation: UK charity supporting children with serious illness including hospital entertainment, distraction, and wish granting; comparable beneficiary population and corporate partnership model, though different support modality.
• Children with Cancer UK: UK charity specifically focused on childhood cancer, funding research and family support; highly comparable mission to Young Lives vs Cancer, with overlapping fundraising and beneficiary segments.
• Rainbow Trust Children's Charity: Supports families with seriously ill children including cancer, providing family support workers and sibling care; directly comparable in providing non-medical practical support to families of children with life-threatening conditions in the UK.
• Together for Short Lives: UK children's palliative care charity supporting families of children with life-limiting conditions; overlaps with Young Lives vs Cancer's bereavement support and end-of-life care pathways for paediatric oncology families.
• Make-A-Wish UK: Grants wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer; comparable in UK-wide reach, corporate partnership model, and beneficiary population (children 0–18 with serious illness).

Broad incumbents

• Anthony Nolan: UK charity supporting patients with blood cancer and stem cell transplantation; comparable scale and donor base in the cancer charity sector but focuses on the donor registry rather than family support services.
• Cancer Research UK: UK's leading cancer research charity; comparable in national scale and fundraising channels but focused on research rather than direct family support, making it adjacent rather than directly competitive.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK's largest cancer charity; serves all ages including young people but lacks the embedded NHS social-worker model, making Young Lives vs Cancer more specialised in paediatric oncology support.

Emerging players

• Teens Unite Fighting Cancer: UK charity supporting teenagers and young adults aged 13–24 with cancer; directly overlaps with Young Lives vs Cancer's dedicated young people's service but smaller scale.

Others

• CLIC Sargent (legacy): Legal entity is CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children, the registered name of Young Lives vs Cancer; included only as the historical/structural identity, not as a separate competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/YLvsCancer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/clicsargent
• Facebookfacebook.com/younglivesvscancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/younglivesvscancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/younglivesvscancer
• TikToktiktok.com/@younglivesvscancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Lives vs Cancer